Something's gotta give when it comes to the persistent reluctance amongst bigger players to ringfence stats and info. And it's up to publishers and retailers to coerce their partners and colleagues and help create some outward confidence that goes beyond an accountant smiling at an internal spreadsheet.

Otherwise next year, at a time when the market is expected to show another decrease, it might start to look like games are a dying breed, when we all know they are more pervasive than ever.